LITERATURE Review
Sharks Of The World
Mankind has explored less than five percent of the ocean(National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration, 2014).In the small percentage of the oceans we have explored, humans have discovered over four hundred and sixty five species of shark (Defenders Of Wildlife, 2015). Out of the sharks we know about, almost all of them dominate the food chain. Unfortunately many sharks are endangered and extinction of certain species of sharks is a possibility (Defenders Of Wildlife, 2015). Human impact on sharks is significant. In some cultures eating sharks is a very popular thing to do. “Shark fin soup" is one entree that is devastating the shark population (Stop Shark Finning, 2007). "Finning" sharks is a process when fishers catch sharks cut the fin off then throw the remainder of the shark back into the water. Finning is not only extremely wasteful, but it is also cruel.
Sharks have been around for over four hundred million years (WildAid, 2015). Throughout those four hundred million years sharks have been adapting. Sharks have adapted in many ways to become the "Apex Predator". Today's Great White Shark is very close to the prehistoric Megladon. Megladon was a species of shark that swam the oceans the same time the dinosaurs lived on earth. Megladon was around fifty feet long and had teeth that measured over 6 inches (WildAid, 2015). While there is no proof, many people believe that Megladons still swim the ocean today. The idea that Megladons are still in existence today may seem far fetched: However humans know so little about the ocean it is a possibility.
Sharks diets vary among species, but for most of them their diet includes fish and seal (bioexpedition.com, 2014). Tiger sharks are aggressive sharks and eat almost anything they come in contact with. Scientist have found everything from metal car parts to sea snakes inside of tiger sharks stomachs (national geographic, 2015). Most sharks live to be around twenty five or thirty years old, however certain species such as the Whale shark can live to be over 100 years old. We are not sure how old all different species of shark live to be because they are very difficult to track (Bioexpedition.com, 2014)
Sharks are very important to the ecosystem. Sharks are at the top of the food chain and are have the very important job of keeping all the animals below them on the food chain in balance. Without sharks species would over populate which could then lead to a chain reaction of species extinction both in and out of the sharks ecosystem. For example, a species of fish could go extinct which could then cause the animal that eats that fish to have limited or no food causing that animal to go extinct as well (WildAid, 2015)
Researchers and scientist are currently tracking sharks. Tracking sharks can answer questions such as; where are sharks born? Where do they travel throughout their life? And Where do they travel throughout the year? The new question my research brings up is what is the most efficient and best way to protect these creatures? How can we prevent them from being overfished?
Mankind has explored less than five percent of the ocean(National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration, 2014).In the small percentage of the oceans we have explored, humans have discovered over four hundred and sixty five species of shark (Defenders Of Wildlife, 2015). Out of the sharks we know about, almost all of them dominate the food chain. Unfortunately many sharks are endangered and extinction of certain species of sharks is a possibility (Defenders Of Wildlife, 2015). Human impact on sharks is significant. In some cultures eating sharks is a very popular thing to do. “Shark fin soup" is one entree that is devastating the shark population (Stop Shark Finning, 2007). "Finning" sharks is a process when fishers catch sharks cut the fin off then throw the remainder of the shark back into the water. Finning is not only extremely wasteful, but it is also cruel.
Sharks have been around for over four hundred million years (WildAid, 2015). Throughout those four hundred million years sharks have been adapting. Sharks have adapted in many ways to become the "Apex Predator". Today's Great White Shark is very close to the prehistoric Megladon. Megladon was a species of shark that swam the oceans the same time the dinosaurs lived on earth. Megladon was around fifty feet long and had teeth that measured over 6 inches (WildAid, 2015). While there is no proof, many people believe that Megladons still swim the ocean today. The idea that Megladons are still in existence today may seem far fetched: However humans know so little about the ocean it is a possibility.
Sharks diets vary among species, but for most of them their diet includes fish and seal (bioexpedition.com, 2014). Tiger sharks are aggressive sharks and eat almost anything they come in contact with. Scientist have found everything from metal car parts to sea snakes inside of tiger sharks stomachs (national geographic, 2015). Most sharks live to be around twenty five or thirty years old, however certain species such as the Whale shark can live to be over 100 years old. We are not sure how old all different species of shark live to be because they are very difficult to track (Bioexpedition.com, 2014)
Sharks are very important to the ecosystem. Sharks are at the top of the food chain and are have the very important job of keeping all the animals below them on the food chain in balance. Without sharks species would over populate which could then lead to a chain reaction of species extinction both in and out of the sharks ecosystem. For example, a species of fish could go extinct which could then cause the animal that eats that fish to have limited or no food causing that animal to go extinct as well (WildAid, 2015)
Researchers and scientist are currently tracking sharks. Tracking sharks can answer questions such as; where are sharks born? Where do they travel throughout their life? And Where do they travel throughout the year? The new question my research brings up is what is the most efficient and best way to protect these creatures? How can we prevent them from being overfished?